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Social-Emotional Development

Social-emotional development means how children understand who they are and what they feel. Children develop strong social-emotional skills when they feel secure, values, and cared. Children who have developed strong social and emotional skills are able to:

Form healthy relationships with others.

Respond to challenges.

Regulate their emotions.

Interact with people.

Make friends.

Manage stress and anxiety.

 

Children who have developed social-emotional skills are able to understand their own thoughts and feelings and label them. Moreover, children may behave with their friends and parents differently.

 

Milestones of Social-Emotional Development:

Parents like observing their children each day: the first smile and first step make them happy. However, there are a lot of situations when parents see something in a child’s behavior that disturbs them. For example, the first tantrum. Parents do not know what to do. Let’s take a look at the milestones of development of each child. Developmental milestones are specific behavior or physical skills seen in children when they grow.

 

Infants (At birth to 15 months)

For an infant is essential to feel safe, secure and loved because it helps form the social and emotional foundation.  An important stage of development:

At birth:

  • Turning head toward their parent’s voice.
  • Cries when he/she needs something.
  • By 2 months starts to smile and look directly at you.

6 months:

  • Likes playing with others.
  • Seems happy.
  • Responds to people’s emotions.
  • Starts showing what he/she likes or dislikes.

9 months:

  •  Learns how to solve the problem.
  •  Likes doing things over and over again.
  •  Shows stranger anxiety.
  •  Starts to prefer some toys over others.

12 months:

  • Can cry when parents leave.
  • Repeats sounds and actions to get attention.
  • Likes playing ''peekaboo''.
  • Makes a specific noise to get attention.

 

How to behave with infants?

Love your child.

Hug, cuddle, read, talk and sing songs together every day.

Comfort your child when he/she is upset.

Respond to the child’s needs.

Play simple social games with your child.

Try to follow the same order of routings and activities each day.

 

Toddlers:

Toddlers develop their social skills through interactions with parents and caregivers. Children at this age like playing in a welcoming physical and emotional environment where they can feel secure and safe.

18 months:

  • Play beside other children.
  • Do not like sharing.   
  • May have temper tantrums.

24 months:

  • Copy others.
  • Show more independence.
  • Can do what it was told not to do.

 

How to behave with Toddlers?

Talk about emotions. For example: ''This girl is upset because she wants to buy a toy''.

Talk about your own emotions. For example, “I am happy because I play with you”.

Help child recognize his/her own feelings.

Teach ways how to manage emotions.

Stay positive and give positive feedback to your child.

Help your child get new skills.

Give choices to your child.

 

Preschoolers:

Preschoolers like playing with peers, making friends, and exploring the world. They need to have an opportunity to express and label their negative and positive feelings and emotions.

Characteristics of preschoolers:

  • Are able to take turns in games.
  • Verbalize a wider range of emotions.
  • Understand the idea of “mine” and “yours”.
  • MAY have tantrums.

 

How to behave with preschoolers?

Encourage your child to try new things.

Tell your children before transitions occur.

For example: “In 5 minutes we will tidy up”.

Ask your child questions when he/she is upset.

Help your child use words to describe feelings.

Give a choice.

Help your child be included.

Teach your child to use home language, gestures, and signs.

Use children’s books to teach social skills.

Help your child see what he/she is capable of.

Help your child to explore the world.

Acknowledge your child’s feelings.

Develop trust between you and your child.

  ...

References:

Early Child Development. Ontario. Retrieved from https://www.ontario.ca/page/early-child-development 

Kruk M., (2014) Child from birth to adolescence. McCraw-Hill Ryerson.

Murphy, L. B. & Moon, R. Babies, and their senses. Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. Retrieved from: http://www.zerotothree.org/child-development/temperament-behavior/babies-and-their-senses.html

Social-Emotional. Pathways. Retrieved from: https://pathways.org/topics-of-development/social-emotional/